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Su X, Li Y, Liu H, An S, Yao N, Li C, Shang M, Ma L, Yang J, Li J, Zhang M, Dun W, Huang ZG. Brain Network Dynamics in Women With Primary Dysmenorrhea During the Pain-Free Periovulation Phase. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2024:104618. [PMID: 38945381 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2024.104618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
The human brain is a dynamic system that shows frequency-specific features. Neuroimaging studies have shown that both healthy individuals and those with chronic pain disorders experience pain influenced by various processes that fluctuate over time. Primary dysmenorrhea (PDM) is a chronic visceral pain that disrupts the coordinated activity of brain's functional network. However, it remains unclear whether the dynamic interactions across the whole-brain network over time and their associations with neurobehavioral symptoms are dependent on the frequency bands in patients with PDM during the pain-free periovulation phase. In this study, we used an energy landscape analysis to examine the interactions over time across the large-scale network in a sample of 59 patients with PDM and 57 healthy controls (HCs) at different frequency bands. Compared with HCs, patients with PDM exhibit aberrant brain dynamics, with more significant differences in the slow-4 frequency band. Patients with PDM show more indirect neural transition counts due to an unstable intermediate state, whereas neurotypical brain activity frequently transitions between 2 major states. This data-driven approach further revealed that the brains of individuals with PDM have more abnormal brain dynamics than HCs. Our results suggested that unstable brain dynamics were associated with the strength of brain functional segregation and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale score. Our findings provide preliminary evidence that atypical dynamics in the functional network may serve as a potential key feature and biological marker of patients with PDM during the pain-free phase. PERSPECTIVE: We applied energy landscape analysis on brain-imaging data to identify relatively stable and dominant brain activity patterns for patients with PDM. More atypical brain dynamics were found in the slow-4 band and were related to the strength of functional segregation, providing new insights into the dysfunction brain dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Su
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, The Key Laboratory of Neuro-informatics and Rehabilitation Engineering of Ministry of Civil Affairs, Institute of Health and Rehabilitation Science, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Research Center for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Youjun Li
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, The Key Laboratory of Neuro-informatics and Rehabilitation Engineering of Ministry of Civil Affairs, Institute of Health and Rehabilitation Science, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Research Center for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Huiping Liu
- School of Future Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China; Department of Medical Imaging, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Simeng An
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, The Key Laboratory of Neuro-informatics and Rehabilitation Engineering of Ministry of Civil Affairs, Institute of Health and Rehabilitation Science, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Research Center for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Nan Yao
- Research Center for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Department of Applied Physics, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, China
| | - Chenxi Li
- Department of Military Medical Psychology, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Meiling Shang
- School of Future Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China; Department of Medical Imaging, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ling Ma
- Department of Medical Imaging, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Medical Imaging, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jianlong Li
- Department of Urology, Xi'an No.3 Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, PR China
| | - Ming Zhang
- Department of Medical Imaging, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Wanghuan Dun
- Rehabilitation Medicine Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zi-Gang Huang
- The Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, The Key Laboratory of Neuro-informatics and Rehabilitation Engineering of Ministry of Civil Affairs, Institute of Health and Rehabilitation Science, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Research Center for Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
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Świder K, Moratti S, Bruña R. How to make calibration less painful-A proposition for an automatic, reliable and time-efficient procedure. Psychophysiology 2024; 61:e14505. [PMID: 38229548 DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
In behavioral and neurophysiological pain studies, multiple types of calibration methods are used to quantify the individual pain sensation stimuli. Often, studies lack a detailed calibration procedure description, data linearity, and quality quantification and omit required control for sex pain differences. This hampers study repetition and interexperimental comparisons. Moreover, typical calibration procedures require a high number of stimulations, which may cause discomfort and stimuli habituation among participants. To overcome those shortcomings, we present an automatic calibration procedure with a novel stimuli estimation method for intraepidermal stimulation. We provide an in-depth data analysis of the collected self-reports from 70 healthy volunteers (37 males) and propose a method based on a dynamic truncated linear regression model (tLRM). We compare its estimates for the sensation (t) and pain (T) thresholds and mid-pain stimulation (MP), with those calculated using traditional estimation methods and standard linear regression models. Compared to the other methods, tLRM exhibits higher R2 and requires 36% fewer stimuli applications and has significantly higher t intensity and lower T and MP intensities. Regarding sex differences, t and T were found to be lower for females compared to males, regardless of the estimation method. The proposed tLRM method quantifies the calibration procedure quality, minimizes its duration and invasiveness, and provides validation of linearity between stimuli intensity and subjective scores, making it an enabling technique for further studies. Moreover, our results highlight the importance of control for sex in pain studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Świder
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Psychology Faculty, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centre for Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience (C3N), Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Stephan Moratti
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Psychology Faculty, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Centre for Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience (C3N), Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricardo Bruña
- Centre for Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience (C3N), Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Radiology, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, IdISSC, Madrid, Spain
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3
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Adamczyk WM, Ramu V, Jackson C, Schulze G, Goldschneider KR, Kashikar-Zuck S, King CD, Coghill RC. Radiation of pain: Psychophysical evidence for a population coding mechanism. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.02.587666. [PMID: 38617343 PMCID: PMC11014521 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.02.587666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
The spread of pain across body locations remains poorly understood but may provide important insights into the encoding of sensory features of noxious stimuli by populations of neurons. In this psychophysical experiment, we hypothesized that more intense noxious stimuli would lead to spread of pain, but more intense light stimuli would not produce perceptual radiation. Fifty healthy volunteers participated in this study wherein four intensities of noxious stimuli (43, 45, 47 and 49°C) were applied to glabrous (hand) and hairy skin (forearm) skin with 5s and 10s durations. Also, four different intensities of visual stimuli displayed on the target bodily area were utilized as a control. Participants provided pain (and light) spatial extent ratings as well as pain (and light) intensity ratings. In the extent rating procedure, participants adjusted the extent of the square displayed on the screen with the extent of pain (or light) which they experienced. Pain extent ratings showed statistically significant radiation of pain indicated by 12.42× greater spatial spread of pain (pain extent) than the area of the stimulation with 49°C ( p < 0.001), in contrast to visual ratings which closely approximated the size of the stimulus (1.22×). Pain radiation was more pronounced in hairy than glabrous skin ( p < 0.05) and was more pronounced with longer stimulus duration ( p < 0.001). Pain intensity explained, on average, only 14% of the pain radiation variability. The relative independence of the pain radiation from perceived pain intensity indicates that distinct components of population coding mechanisms may be involved in the spatial representation of pain versus intensity coding.
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Li Z, Zhang L, Zhang F, Yue L, Hu L. Deciphering Authentic Nociceptive Thalamic Responses in Rats. RESEARCH (WASHINGTON, D.C.) 2024; 7:0348. [PMID: 38617991 PMCID: PMC11014087 DOI: 10.34133/research.0348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
The thalamus and its cortical connections play a pivotal role in pain information processing, yet the exploration of its electrophysiological responses to nociceptive stimuli has been limited. Here, in 2 experiments we recorded neural responses to nociceptive laser stimuli in the thalamic (ventral posterior lateral nucleus and medial dorsal nucleus) and cortical regions (primary somatosensory cortex [S1] and anterior cingulate cortex) within the lateral and medial pain pathways. We found remarkable similarities in laser-evoked brain responses that encoded pain intensity within thalamic and cortical regions. Contrary to the expected temporal sequence of ascending information flow, the recorded thalamic response (N1) was temporally later than its cortical counterparts, suggesting that it may not be a genuine thalamus-generated response. Importantly, we also identified a distinctive component in the thalamus, i.e., the early negativity (EN) occurring around 100 ms after the onset of nociceptive stimuli. This EN component represents an authentic nociceptive thalamic response and closely synchronizes with the directional information flow from the thalamus to the cortex. These findings underscore the importance of isolating genuine thalamic neural responses, thereby contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of the thalamic function in pain processing. Additionally, these findings hold potential clinical implications, particularly in the advancement of closed-loop neuromodulation treatments for neurological diseases targeting this vital brain region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenjiang Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology,
Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology,
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China
| | - Libo Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology,
Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology,
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China
| | - Fengrui Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology,
Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology,
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China
| | - Lupeng Yue
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology,
Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology,
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China
| | - Li Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology,
Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101 Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology,
University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049 Beijing, China
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5
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Cohen SP, Caterina MJ, Yang SY, Socolovsky M, Sommer C. Pain in the Context of Sensory Deafferentation. Anesthesiology 2024; 140:824-848. [PMID: 38470115 DOI: 10.1097/aln.0000000000004881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Pain that accompanies deafferentation is one of the most mysterious and misunderstood medical conditions. Prevalence rates for the assorted conditions vary considerably but the most reliable estimates are greater than 50% for strokes involving the somatosensory system, brachial plexus avulsions, spinal cord injury, and limb amputation, with controversy surrounding the mechanistic contributions of deafferentation to ensuing neuropathic pain syndromes. Deafferentation pain has also been described for loss of other body parts (e.g., eyes and breasts) and may contribute to between 10% and upwards of 30% of neuropathic symptoms in peripheral neuropathies. There is no pathognomonic test or sign to identify deafferentation pain, and part of the controversy surrounding it stems from the prodigious challenges in differentiating cause and effect. For example, it is unknown whether cortical reorganization causes pain or is a byproduct of pathoanatomical changes accompanying injury, including pain. Similarly, ascertaining whether deafferentation contributes to neuropathic pain, or whether concomitant injury to nerve fibers transmitting pain and touch sensation leads to a deafferentation-like phenotype can be clinically difficult, although a detailed neurologic examination, functional imaging, and psychophysical tests may provide clues. Due in part to the concurrent morbidities, the physical, psychologic, and by extension socioeconomic costs of disorders associated with deafferentation are higher than for other chronic pain conditions. Treatment is symptom-based, with evidence supporting first-line antineuropathic medications such as gabapentinoids and antidepressants. Studies examining noninvasive neuromodulation and virtual reality have yielded mixed results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven P Cohen
- Departments of Anesthesiology, Neurology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois; Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Anesthesiology, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Michael J Caterina
- Neurosurgery Pain Research Institute and Department of Biological Chemistry, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Su-Yin Yang
- Psychology Service, Woodlands Health, and Adjunct Faculty, Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Singapore
| | - Mariano Socolovsky
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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6
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Bordoni B. Post cholecystectomy pain syndrome: Letter to Editor. Scand J Pain 2024; 24:sjpain-2024-0001. [PMID: 38451611 DOI: 10.1515/sjpain-2024-0001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Bordoni
- Department of Cardiology, Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, Milan, Italy
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7
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Tu Y, Li Z, Zhang L, Zhang H, Bi Y, Yue L, Hu L. Pain-preferential thalamocortical neural dynamics across species. Nat Hum Behav 2024; 8:149-163. [PMID: 37813996 DOI: 10.1038/s41562-023-01714-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Abstract
Searching for pain-preferential neural activity is essential for understanding and managing pain. Here, we investigated the preferential role of thalamocortical neural dynamics in encoding pain using human neuroimaging and rat electrophysiology across three studies. In study 1, we found that painful stimuli preferentially activated the medial-dorsal (MD) thalamic nucleus and its functional connectivity with the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and insula in two human functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) datasets (n = 399 and n = 25). In study 2, human fMRI and electroencephalography fusion analyses (n = 220) revealed that pain-preferential MD responses were identified 89-295 ms after painful stimuli. In study 3, rat electrophysiology further showed that painful stimuli preferentially activated MD neurons and MD-ACC connectivity. These converging cross-species findings provided evidence for pain-preferential thalamocortical neural dynamics, which could guide future pain evaluation and management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiheng Tu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Zhenjiang Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Libo Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Huijuan Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yanzhi Bi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lupeng Yue
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li Hu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Department of Psychology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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8
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Cohen M, Quintner J, Weisman A. "Nociplastic Pain": A Challenge to Nosology and to Nociception. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2023; 24:2131-2139. [PMID: 37482233 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2023.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
The construct of "nociplastic pain" has met with divergent receptions. On the one hand it has been enthusiastically embraced, to the extent of conflation with central sensitization of nociception and the International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision (ICD-11) entity of "primary" pain, and the promulgation of "nociplastic pain syndromes." On the other hand, it has been rejected by those whose skepticism derives from the absence, by definition, of underlying activation of nociceptors. This article seeks to dissect these divergent views and search for reconciliation between them. One line of argument is that "nociplastic" pain, "primary" pain, and "central sensitisation of nociception" reflect different domains of inquiry and should not be conflated. "Nociplastic" pain emerges as a hypothesis that confers clinical legitimacy and utility; while that hypothesis needs a minor but important modification and continues to require testing, discipline in its usage is necessary. The other line of argument discovers an unexpected impasse: the construct of "nociplastic pain" describes a phenomenon that accords with the International Association for the Study of Pain definition of pain but occurs in the absence of nociception-as-currently-defined, thus challenging the definitional link between pain and tissue damage. The article offers a resolution of this impasse by suggesting that nociception-as-currently-defined be replaced by the resurrected concept of a nociceptive apparatus, activation of which is necessary but not sufficient for the experience of pain. One consequence would be to allow the assertions underpinning "nociplastic" to be tested empirically; another would be to relate the phenomenon of pain to a more biologically plausible basis than "actual" or "resemblance to" tissue damage. PERSPECTIVE: This article explores the major challenges posed by "nociplastic pain" to nosology and to nociception. While discipline in the clinical use of the construct is required, it also emerges that the main issue is the International Association for the Study of Pain definition of nociception. A reconceptualization of nociception is proposed for logical, biological, and clinical coherence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milton Cohen
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, St Vincent's Healthcare Clinical Campus, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - John Quintner
- Arthritis and Osteoporosis Foundation of Western Australia, Shenton Park, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Asaf Weisman
- Spinal Research Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, Stanley Steyer School of Health Professions, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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9
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Oh A, Koehler A, Yonker M, Troester M. Sleep Disorders and Chronic Pain Syndromes in the Pediatric Population. Semin Pediatr Neurol 2023; 48:101085. [PMID: 38065632 DOI: 10.1016/j.spen.2023.101085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Sleep problems are widespread in children and adolescents suffering from chronic pain disorders. Sleep loss intensifies the experience of pain and is detrimental to the budding self-efficacy of a young individual with limitless horizons. Addressing sleep disorders may prevent the chronification of pain and prevent adverse health outcomes, such as functional impairment, psychiatric comorbidities and overall poor quality of life. This review will explore the cyclical nature between sleep, pain and mood, as well as the functional impact of this relationship on children and adolescents. There will be a discussion about sleep assessment and diagnostic testing, followed by a description of sleep disturbances found in specific pain conditions, ranging from headache, musculoskeletal/abdominal pain, to rheumatologic disorders. Finally, there will be a brief review of pharmacologic and behavioral interventions designed to improve sleep quality, and when possible, to alleviate pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Oh
- Division of Neurology, UCSF Pediatric Headache Center, University of California, San Francisco, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, Mission Hall, 550 16th Street, 5th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
| | - Angelina Koehler
- Division of Neurology, Pediatric Headache Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Marcy Yonker
- Division of Neurology, Pediatric Headache Program, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
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10
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Sago T, Costa YM, Ferreira DM, Svensson P, Exposto FG. Referred sensations in the orofacial region are associated with a decreased descending pain inhibition and modulated by remote noxious stimuli and local anesthesia. Pain 2023; 164:2228-2238. [PMID: 37289580 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Referred sensation (RS) as a specific clinical phenomenon has been known for a long time, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The aims of this study were to assess if (1) healthy individuals who experienced RS had a less active endogenous pain system when compared with those who did not; (2) activation of descending pain inhibition mechanisms can modulate RS parameters; and finally, (3) a transient decrease in peripheral afferent input because of a local anesthetic (LA) block in the masseter muscle can modulate RS parameters. To assess these, 50 healthy participants were assessed in 3 different sessions. In the first session, conditioned pain modulation (CPM) as well as mechanical sensitivity and RS at the masseter muscle were assessed. In the same session, participants who experienced RS had their mechanical sensitivity and RS assessed again while undergoing a CPM protocol. In the second and third sessions, participants had their mechanical sensitivity and RS assessed before and after receiving an injection of 2 mL of LA and isotonic saline into the masseter muscle. The main findings of this study were (1) participants who experienced RS during standardized palpation exhibited increased mechanical sensitivity ( P < 0.05, Tukey post hoc test) and decreased CPM ( P < 0.05, Tukey post hoc test) when compared with those who did not; RS incidence ( P < 0.05, Cochran Q test), frequency ( P < 0.05; Friedman test), intensity ( P < 0.05, Tukey post hoc test), and area ( P < 0.05, Tukey post hoc test) were all significantly reduced when assessed (2) during a painful conditioning stimulus and (3) after LA block. These novel findings highlight that RS in the orofacial region are strongly modified by both peripheral and central nervous system factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teppei Sago
- Division of Dental Anesthesiology, Department of Science of Physical Functions, Kyushu Dental University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Yuri M Costa
- Department of Biosciences, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Dyna M Ferreira
- Department of Prosthodontics, Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Bauru, Brazil
| | - Peter Svensson
- Section for Orofacial Pain and Jaw Function, Department of Dentistry and Oral Health, Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Scandinavian Center for Orofacial Neurosciences (SCON), Aarhus, Denmark
- Faculty of Odontology, Malmo University, Malmo, Sweden
| | - Fernando G Exposto
- Section for Orofacial Pain and Jaw Function, Department of Dentistry and Oral Health, Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Scandinavian Center for Orofacial Neurosciences (SCON), Aarhus, Denmark
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11
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Bordoni B, Girgenti GT, Escher AR. Practice of Peritoneal Adhesions in Osteopathic Medicine: Part 2. Cureus 2023; 15:e43092. [PMID: 37554375 PMCID: PMC10406449 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.43092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Peritoneal adhesions are an unwanted and frequent event following abdominal surgery, with a response rate that can reach 100%. The adhesions can be symptomatic, becoming a source of pain and discomfort for the patient, or asymptomatic, with possible chronic or acute visceral dysfunction. The article reviews what the diagnostic strategies are and discusses what could be the causes that lead to chronic pain in the presence of adhesions. The text reports the knowledge of the literature on the manual treatment of adhesions and illustrates possible symptoms that are not easily recognized by the clinician. To conclude, the article proposes osteopathic manual approaches derived from clinical experience and from what has been explained about the formation of peritoneal adhesions. Research must make further efforts to identify not only the causes triggering the formation of peritoneal neogenesis but also seek the most appropriate non-invasive treatments to help the patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Bordoni
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Foundation Don Carlo Gnocchi, Milan, ITA
| | - Gregory T Girgenti
- Anesthesiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, USA
| | - Allan R Escher
- Anesthesiology/Pain Medicine, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, USA
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12
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Bordoni B, Escher AR, Girgenti GT. Peritoneal Adhesions in Osteopathic Medicine: Theory, Part 1. Cureus 2023; 15:e42472. [PMID: 37502471 PMCID: PMC10369357 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.42472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Peritoneal adhesions form as a result of trauma to the abdomen, injuries resulting from surgery, and infections. These tissutal neoformations are innervated and vascularized, and with lymphatic vessels, adherence becomes a new and independent structure, capable of negatively influencing visceral functions. Adherent neogenesis can be asymptomatic or can be a source of pain, limiting the patient's quality of life. Although adhesiolysis remains the elective approach to eliminate adhesions, this therapeutic route prepares the peritoneal anatomical area to recur. The article reviews information on adhesion formation and peritoneal anatomy, probable subjective predispositions, and pathways that carry nociception. The text aims to be a theoretical basis for making new treatment suggestions for non-invasive osteopathic medicine, through a second part will be discussed in another article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Bordoni
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Don Carlo Gnocchi Foundation, Milan, ITA
| | - Allan R Escher
- Anesthesiology/Pain Medicine, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, USA
| | - Gregory T Girgenti
- Anesthesiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, USA
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13
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Adamczyk WM, Katra M, Szikszay TM, Peugh J, King CD, Luedtke K, Coghill RC. Spatial Tuning in Nociceptive Processing Is Driven by Attention. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2023; 24:1116-1125. [PMID: 36965648 PMCID: PMC10330125 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2023.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023]
Abstract
When the source of nociception expands across a body area, the experience of pain increases due to the spatial integration of nociceptive information. This well-established effect is called spatial summation of pain (SSp) and has been the subject of multiple investigations. Here, we used cold-induced SSp to investigate the effect of attention on the spatial tuning of nociceptive processing. Forty pain-free volunteers (N = 40, 20 females) participated in this experiment. They took part in an SSp paradigm based on three hand immersions into cold water (5°C): Participants either immersed the radial segment ("a"), ulnar segment ("b") or both hand segments ("a+b") and provided overall pain ratings. In some trials based on "a+b" immersions, they were also asked to provide divided (ie, first pain in "a" then in "b"; or reversed) and directed attention ratings (ie, pain only in "a" or "b"). Results confirmed a clear SSp effect in which reported pain during immersions of "a" or "b" was less intense than pain during immersions of "a+b" (P < .001). Data also confirmed that spatial tuning was altered. SSp was abolished when participants provided two ratings in a divided fashion (P < .001). Furthermore, pain was significantly lower when attention was directed only to one segment ("a" OR "b") during "a+b" immersion (P < .001). We conclude that spatial tuning is dynamically driven by attention as reflected in abolished SSp. Directed attention was sufficient to focus spatial tuning and abolish SSp. Results support the role of cognitive processes such as attention in spatial tuning. PERSPECTIVE: This article presents experimental investigation of spatial tuning in pain and offers mechanistic insights of contiguous spatial summation of pain in healthy volunteers. Depending on how pain is evaluated in terms of attentional derivative (overall pain, directed, divided attention) the pain is reduced and spatial summation abolished.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waclaw M Adamczyk
- Pediatric Pain Research Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio; Laboratory of Pain Research, Institute of Physiotherapy and Health Sciences, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland.
| | - Michal Katra
- Laboratory of Pain Research, Institute of Physiotherapy and Health Sciences, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland
| | - Tibor M Szikszay
- Department of Physiotherapy, Pain and Exercise Research Lübeck (P.E.R.L.), Institute of Health Sciences, Universität zu Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - James Peugh
- Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Christopher D King
- Pediatric Pain Research Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Kerstin Luedtke
- Laboratory of Pain Research, Institute of Physiotherapy and Health Sciences, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland; Department of Physiotherapy, Pain and Exercise Research Lübeck (P.E.R.L.), Institute of Health Sciences, Universität zu Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Robert C Coghill
- Pediatric Pain Research Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
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14
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Yaksh TL, Santos GGD, Borges Paes Lemes J, Malange K. Neuraxial drug delivery in pain management: An overview of past, present, and future. Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol 2023; 37:243-265. [PMID: 37321769 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpa.2023.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Activation of neuraxial nociceptive linkages leads to a high level of encoding of the message that is transmitted to the brain and that can initiate a pain state with its attendant emotive covariates. As we review here, the encoding of this message is subject to a profound regulation by pharmacological targeting of dorsal root ganglion and dorsal horn systems. Though first shown with the robust and selective modulation by spinal opiates, subsequent work has revealed the pharmacological and biological complexity of these neuraxial systems and points to several regulatory targets. Novel therapeutic delivery platforms, such as viral transfection, antisense and targeted neurotoxins, point to disease-modifying approaches that can selectively address the acute and chronic pain phenotype. Further developments are called for in delivery devices to enhance local distribution and to minimize concentration gradients, as frequently occurs with the poorly mixed intrathecal space. The field has advanced remarkably since the mid-1970s, but these advances must always address the issues of safety and tolerability of neuraxial therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony L Yaksh
- Department of Anesthesiology University of California, San Diego, San Diego CA, 92103, USA.
| | | | | | - Kaue Malange
- Department of Anesthesiology University of California, San Diego, San Diego CA, 92103, USA
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15
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Melum TA, Årnes AP, Stigum H, Stubhaug A, Steingrímsdóttir ÓA, Mathiesen EB, Nielsen CS. Pain tolerance after stroke: The Tromsø study. Eur J Pain 2023. [PMID: 37167415 DOI: 10.1002/ejp.2124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stroke lesions might alter pain processing and modulation by affecting the widely distributed network of brain regions involved. We aimed to compare pain tolerance in stroke survivors and stroke-free persons in the general population, with and without chronic pain. METHODS We included all participants of the sixth and seventh wave of the population-based Tromsø Study who had been tested with the cold pressor test (hand in cold water bath, 3°C, maximum time 106 s in the sixth wave and 120 s in the seventh) and who had information on previous stroke status and covariates. Data on stroke status were obtained from the Tromsø Study Cardiovascular Disease Register and the Norwegian Stroke Register. Cox regression models were fitted using stroke prior to study attendance as the independent variable, cold pressor endurance time as time variable and hand withdrawal from cold water as event. Statistical adjustments were made for age, sex, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, body mass index and smoking. RESULTS In total 21,837 participants were included, 311 of them with previous stroke. Stroke was associated with decreased cold pain tolerance time, with 28% increased hazard of hand withdrawal (hazard ratio [HR] 1.28, 95% CI 1.10-1.50). The effect was similar in participants with (HR 1.28, 95% CI 0.99-1.66) and without chronic pain (HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.04-1.59). CONCLUSIONS Stroke survivors, with and without chronic pain, had lower cold pressor pain tolerance, with possible clinical implications for pain in this group. SIGNIFICANCE We found lower pain tolerance in participants with previous stroke compared to stroke-free participants of a large, population-based study. The association was present both in those with and without chronic pain. The results may warrant increased awareness by health professionals towards pain experienced by stroke patients in response to injuries, diseases and procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tonje Anita Melum
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Northern Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Pain, University Hospital of Northern Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Anders P Årnes
- Department of Pain, University Hospital of Northern Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Hein Stigum
- Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Audun Stubhaug
- Department of Pain Management and Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ólöf Anna Steingrímsdóttir
- Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Research and Development, Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ellisiv B Mathiesen
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Northern Norway, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Christopher S Nielsen
- Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Pain Management and Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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16
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Gray matter volume and pain tolerance in a general population: the Tromsø study. Pain 2023:00006396-990000000-00257. [PMID: 36877481 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT As pain is processed by an extensive network of brain regions, the structural status of the brain may affect pain perception. We aimed to study the association between gray matter volume (GMV) and pain sensitivity in a general population. We used data from 1522 participants in the seventh wave of the Tromsø study, who had completed the cold pressor test (3°C, maximum time 120 seconds), undergone magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, and had complete information on covariates. Cox proportional hazards regression models were fitted with time to hand withdrawal from cold exposure as outcome. Gray matter volume was the independent variable, and analyses were adjusted for intracranial volume, age, sex, education level, and cardiovascular risk factors. Additional adjustment was made for chronic pain and depression in subsamples with available information on the respective item. FreeSurfer was used to estimate vertexwise cortical and subcortical gray matter volumes from the T1-weighted MR image. Post hoc analyses were performed on cortical and subcortical volume estimates. Standardized total GMV was associated with risk of hand withdrawal (hazard ratio [HR] 0.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.71-0.93). The effect remained significant after additional adjustment for chronic pain (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.72-0.97) or depression (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.71-0.94). In post hoc analyses, positive associations between standardized GMV and pain tolerance were seen in most brain regions, with larger effect sizes in regions previously shown to be associated with pain. In conclusion, our findings indicate that larger GMV is associated with longer pain tolerance in the general population.
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Singh SP, Guindon J, Mody PH, Ashworth G, Kopel J, Chilakapati S, Adogwa O, Neugebauer V, Burton MD. Pain and aging: A unique challenge in neuroinflammation and behavior. Mol Pain 2023; 19:17448069231203090. [PMID: 37684099 PMCID: PMC10552461 DOI: 10.1177/17448069231203090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic pain is one of the most common, costly, and potentially debilitating health issues facing older adults, with attributable costs exceeding $600 billion annually. The prevalence of pain in humans increases with advancing age. Yet, the contributions of sex differences, age-related chronic inflammation, and changes in neuroplasticity to the overall experience of pain are less clear, given that opposing processes in aging interact. This review article examines and summarizes pre-clinical research and clinical data on chronic pain among older adults to identify knowledge gaps and provide the base for future research and clinical practice. We provide evidence to suggest that neurodegenerative conditions engender a loss of neural plasticity involved in pain response, whereas low-grade inflammation in aging increases CNS sensitization but decreases PNS sensitivity. Insights from preclinical studies are needed to answer mechanistic questions. However, the selection of appropriate aging models presents a challenge that has resulted in conflicting data regarding pain processing and behavioral outcomes that are difficult to translate to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shishu Pal Singh
- Neuroimmunology and Behavior Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Center for Advanced Pain Studies (CAPS), School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Josee Guindon
- Garrison Institute on Aging and Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Prapti H Mody
- Neuroimmunology and Behavior Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Center for Advanced Pain Studies (CAPS), School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
| | - Gabriela Ashworth
- Garrison Institute on Aging and Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Jonathan Kopel
- Garrison Institute on Aging and Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Sai Chilakapati
- Neuroimmunology and Behavior Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Center for Advanced Pain Studies (CAPS), School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Owoicho Adogwa
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Volker Neugebauer
- Garrison Institute on Aging and Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Michael D Burton
- Neuroimmunology and Behavior Laboratory, Department of Neuroscience, Center for Advanced Pain Studies (CAPS), School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, USA
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18
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Neural mechanisms underlying the conditioned pain modulation response: a narrative review of neuroimaging studies. Pain 2023; 164:e25-e46. [PMID: 36017881 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Processing spatially distributed nociceptive information is critical for survival. The conditioned pain modulation (CPM) response has become a common psychophysical test to examine pain modulation capabilities related to spatial filtering of nociceptive information. Neuroimaging studies have been conducted to elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying the CPM response in health and chronic pain states, yet their findings have not been critically reviewed and synthesized before. This narrative review presents a simplified overview of MRI methodology in relation to CPM assessments and summarizes the findings of neuroimaging studies on the CPM response. The summary includes functional MRI studies assessing CPM responses during scanning as well as functional and structural MRI studies correlating indices with CPM responses assessed outside of the scanner. The findings are discussed in relation to the suggested mechanisms for the CPM response. A better understanding of neural mechanisms underlying spatial processing of nociceptive information could advance both pain research and clinical use of the CPM response as a marker or a treatment target.
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19
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Thill B. The fetal pain paradox. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH 2023; 4:1128530. [PMID: 37025166 PMCID: PMC10072285 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2023.1128530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Controversy exists as to when conscious pain perception in the fetus may begin. According to the hypothesis of cortical necessity, thalamocortical connections, which do not form until after 24-28 weeks gestation, are necessary for conscious pain perception. However, anesthesiologists and neonatologists treat age-matched neonates as both conscious and pain-capable due to observable and measurable behavioral, hormonal, and physiologic indicators of pain. In preterm infants, these multimodal indicators of pain are uncontroversial, and their presence, despite occurring prior to functional thalamocortical connections, has guided the use of analgesics in neonatology and fetal surgery for decades. However, some medical groups state that below 24 weeks gestation, there is no pain capacity. Thus, a paradox exists in the disparate acknowledgment of pain capability in overlapping patient populations. Brain networks vary by age. During the first and second trimesters, the cortical subplate, a unique structure that is present only during fetal and early neonatal development, forms the first cortical network. In the third trimester, the cortical plate assumes this function. According to the subplate modulation hypothesis, a network of connections to the subplate and subcortical structures is sufficient to facilitate conscious pain perception in the fetus and the preterm neonate prior to 24 weeks gestation. Therefore, similar to other fetal and neonatal systems that have a transitional phase (i.e., circulatory system), there is now strong evidence for transitional developmental phases of fetal and neonatal pain circuitry.
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20
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Margerison SM, Westlake KP, Seminowicz DA. Beyond pain in the brain: A clinician's guide to interpreting the spinal cord's role in the pain experience. Musculoskelet Sci Pract 2022; 62:102664. [PMID: 36116418 DOI: 10.1016/j.msksp.2022.102664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Physical therapy practice has greatly improved in providing a biopsychosocial approach when considering persistent pain. However, the spinal cord is often overlooked as a structure with an important role in modulating nociceptive information. PURPOSE This article highlights the role of the dorsal horn (DH) in nociceptive processing and its impact on persistent pain conditions as they appear clinically. Key processes occurring in the spinal cord are described, including cellular changes and local spinal network responses to nociceptive stimuli. Additionally, associated clinical symptoms are discussed and some aspects of physical therapy evaluation are challenged based on the mechanisms of nociceptive processing presented in this commentary. IMPLICATIONS The spinal cord is an active participant in nociceptive processing, directly impacting the intensity, spread, and recurrence of pain, including within the context of central sensitization. Changes in the behavior of DH neurons are possible with sufficient stimulation and may occur after injury. Additionally, spinal cord activation patterns may lead to bilateral symptoms given adequate strength and duration despite a single peripheral driver. Viewing the spinal cord as a dynamic structure capable of up or down regulating its response to stimuli gives the clinician a better understanding of the nervous system's complex response to prolonged nociceptive input.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Margerison
- Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA; Department of Neural and Pain Sciences, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA.
| | - Kelly P Westlake
- Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - David A Seminowicz
- Department of Neural and Pain Sciences, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA; Department of Medical Biophysics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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21
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Hodkinson DJ, Jackson SR, Jung J. Task-dependent plasticity in distributed neural circuits after transcranial direct current stimulation of the human motor cortex: A proof-of-concept study. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH 2022; 3:1005634. [PMID: 36506269 PMCID: PMC9732378 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2022.1005634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability of non-invasive brain stimulation to induce neuroplasticity and cause long-lasting functional changes is of considerable interest for the reversal of chronic pain and disability. Stimulation of the primary motor cortex (M1) has provided some of the most encouraging after-effects for therapeutic purposes, but little is known about its underlying mechanisms. In this study we combined transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) and fMRI to measure changes in task-specific activity and interregional functional connectivity between M1 and the whole brain. Using a randomized counterbalanced sham-controlled design, we applied anodal and cathodal tDCS stimulation over the left M1. In agreement with previous studies, we demonstrate that tDCS applied to the target region induces task-specific facilitation of local brain activity after anodal tDCS, with the stimulation effects having a negative relationship to the resting motor threshold. Beyond the local effects, tDCS also induced changes in multiple downstream regions distinct from the motor system that may be important for therapeutic efficacy, including the operculo-insular and cingulate cortex. These results offer opportunities to improve outcomes of tDCS for the individual patient based on the degree of presumed neuroplasticity. Further research is still warranted to address the optimal stimulation targets and parameters for those with disease-specific symptoms of chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duncan J. Hodkinson
- Division of Clinical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Queens Medical Center, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- Versus Arthritis Pain Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen R. Jackson
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Queens Medical Center, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - JeYoung Jung
- School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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22
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Alexander Holmes S, Mar'i J, Green S, Borsook D. Towards a deeper understanding of pain: How machine learning and deep learning algorithms are needed to provide the next generation of pain medicine for use in the clinic. NEUROBIOLOGY OF PAIN 2022; 12:100108. [PMID: 36974066 PMCID: PMC10039383 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynpai.2022.100108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
As our definition of pain evolves, the factors implicit in defining and predicting pain status grow. These factors each have unique data characteristics and their outcomes each have unique target attributes. The clinical characterization of pain does not, as defined in the most recent IASP definition, require any tissue pathology, suggesting that the experience of pain can be uniquely psychological in nature. Predicting a persons pain status may be optimized through integration of multiple independent observations; however, how they are integrated has direct relevance towards predicting chronic pain development, clinical application, and research investigation. The current challenge is to find clinically-mindful ways of integrating clinical pain rating scales with neuroimaging of the peripheral and central nervous system with the biopsychocial environment and improving our capacity for diagnostic flexibility and knowledge translation through data modeling. This commentary addresses how our current knowledge of pain phenotypes and risk factors interacts with statistical models and how we can proceed forward in a clinically responsible way.
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23
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Coghill RC. The distributed nociceptive system: a novel framework for understanding pain. Scand J Pain 2022; 22:679-680. [PMID: 36129140 DOI: 10.1515/sjpain-2022-0097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Our current understanding of central nervous system mechanisms supporting the experience of pain remains remarkably limited and produces substantial challenges when seeking to better diagnose and treat chronic pain. A new conceptual framework - The Distributed Nociceptive System - emphasizes system-level aspects of nociceptive processing by incorporating population coding and distributed process. The Distributed Nociceptive System provides a structure for understanding complex spatial aspects of chronic pain and provides a clear rationale for the further development of multi-disciplinary treatments for chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert C Coghill
- Pediatric Pain Research Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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24
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Effects of stimulation area and temperature rates on offset analgesia. Pain Rep 2022; 7:e1043. [PMID: 36284798 PMCID: PMC9584187 DOI: 10.1097/pr9.0000000000001043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Offset analgesia describes the effect of a slightly reduced nociceptive stimulus, resulting in a disproportionate large reduction in the pain perception. This effect may be associated with descending pain inhibition, but parameters influencing this phenomenon are poorly understood. OBJECTIVES In this study, 2 separate experiments were conducted to investigate both, the spatial aspects of offset analgesia and the influence of different rates of temperature rise. METHODS In both experiments, 29 healthy participants received individualized and heat-based offset analgesia paradigms applied to the forearm, with continuous assessment of pain intensity. In experiment 1, offset analgesia paradigms with 3 different rates of temperature rise were applied, whereas in experiment 2, offset analgesia paradigms with 2 different heat application areas were used. RESULTS The results of experiment 1 showed that different temperature rates had no effect on the offset analgesia response (P > 0.05). Experiment 2, however, showed the influence of the size of a stimulated area on offset analgesia (P = 0.009), which can be explained mainly by the influence of spatial summation of pain and habituation processes. CONCLUSIONS The study showed a lack of influence of different temperature rates on offset analgesia; however, spatial aspects of offset analgesia could be identified. These are most likely based on spatial summation of pain and altered adaptation to pain.
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25
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A neuronal prospect theory model in the brain reward circuitry. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5855. [PMID: 36195765 PMCID: PMC9532451 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33579-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Prospect theory, arguably the most prominent theory of choice, is an obvious candidate for neural valuation models. How the activity of individual neurons, a possible computational unit, obeys prospect theory remains unknown. Here, we show, with theoretical accuracy equivalent to that of human neuroimaging studies, that single-neuron activity in four core reward-related cortical and subcortical regions represents the subjective valuation of risky gambles in monkeys. The activity of individual neurons in monkeys passively viewing a lottery reflects the desirability of probabilistic rewards parameterized as a multiplicative combination of utility and probability weighting functions, as in the prospect theory framework. The diverse patterns of valuation signals were not localized but distributed throughout most parts of the reward circuitry. A network model aggregating these signals reconstructed the risk preferences and subjective probability weighting revealed by the animals’ choices. Thus, distributed neural coding explains the computation of subjective valuations under risk. It is unclear how the activity of individual neurons conform to prospect theory. Here, the authors demonstrate that the activity of single neurons in various reward-related regions in the monkey brain can be described as encoding a multiplicative combination of utility and probability weighting, and that this subjective valuation process is achieved via a distributed coding scheme.
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26
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Cunningham NR, Nahman-Averbuch H, Lee GR, King CD, Coghill RC. Amygdalar functional connectivity during resting and evoked pain in youth with functional abdominal pain disorders. Pain 2022; 163:2031-2043. [PMID: 35472070 PMCID: PMC9329503 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Pediatric functional abdominal pain disorders (FAPD) are highly prevalent, difficult to diagnose, and challenging to treat. The brain systems supporting FAPD remain poorly understood. This investigation examined the neuromechanisms of FAPD during a well-tolerated visceral pain induction task, the water load symptom provocation task (WL-SPT). Youth between the ages of 11 and 17 years participated. Functional connectivity (FC) was examined through the blood oxygenation level-dependent effect using the left and right amygdala (AMY) as seed regions. Relationships of the time courses within these seeds with voxels across the whole brain were evaluated. Arterial spin labeling was used to assess regional brain activation by examining cerebral blood flow. Increased FC between the left AMY with regions associated with nociceptive processing (eg, thalamus) and right AMY FC changes with areas associated with cognitive functioning (dorsolateral prefrontal cortex) and the default mode network (DMN; parietal lobe) were observed in youth with FAPD after the WL-SPT. These changes were related to changes in pain unpleasantness. Amygdala FC changes post-WL-SPT were also related to changes in pain intensity. Amygdala FC with the DMN in youth with FAPD also differed from healthy controls. Global cerebral blood flow changes were also noted between FAPD and healthy controls, but no significant differences in grey matter were detected either between groups or during the WL-SPT in youth with FAPD. Findings confirm youth with FAPD undergo changes in brain systems that could support the development of biomarkers to enhance understanding of the mechanisms of pain and treatment response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natoshia R Cunningham
- Department of Family Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Hadas Nahman-Averbuch
- Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Pediatric Pain Research Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University Pain Center and Division of Clinical and Translational Research, Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, United States
| | - Gregory R Lee
- Department of Radiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Department of Radiology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Christopher D King
- Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Pediatric Pain Research Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Robert C Coghill
- Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Pediatric Pain Research Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
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27
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Lee JJ, Lee S, Lee DH, Woo CW. Functional brain reconfiguration during sustained pain. eLife 2022; 11:74463. [PMID: 36173388 PMCID: PMC9522250 DOI: 10.7554/elife.74463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pain is constructed through complex interactions among multiple brain systems, but it remains unclear how functional brain networks are reconfigured over time while experiencing pain. Here, we investigated the time-varying changes in the functional brain networks during 20 min capsaicin-induced sustained orofacial pain. In the early stage, the orofacial areas of the primary somatomotor cortex were separated from other areas of the somatosensory cortex and integrated with subcortical and frontoparietal regions, constituting an extended brain network of sustained pain. As pain decreased over time, the subcortical and frontoparietal regions were separated from this brain network and connected to multiple cerebellar regions. Machine-learning models based on these network features showed significant predictions of changes in pain experience across two independent datasets (n = 48 and 74). This study provides new insights into how multiple brain systems dynamically interact to construct and modulate pain experience, advancing our mechanistic understanding of sustained pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Joong Lee
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science, Suwon, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungwoo Lee
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science, Suwon, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea.,Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong Hee Lee
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science, Suwon, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea.,Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Choong-Wan Woo
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science, Suwon, Republic of Korea.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea.,Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Republic of Korea
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28
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Higinio-Rodríguez F, Rivera-Villaseñor A, Calero-Vargas I, López-Hidalgo M. From nociception to pain perception, possible implications of astrocytes. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:972827. [PMID: 36159392 PMCID: PMC9492445 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.972827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are determinants for the functioning of the CNS. They respond to neuronal activity with calcium increases and can in turn modulate synaptic transmission, brain plasticity as well as cognitive processes. Astrocytes display sensory-evoked calcium responses in different brain structures related to the discriminative system of most sensory modalities. In particular, noxious stimulation evoked calcium responses in astrocytes in the spinal cord, the hippocampus, and the somatosensory cortex. However, it is not clear if astrocytes are involved in pain. Pain is a private, personal, and complex experience that warns us about potential tissue damage. It is a perception that is not linearly associated with the amount of tissue damage or nociception; instead, it is constructed with sensory, cognitive, and affective components and depends on our previous experiences. However, it is not fully understood how pain is created from nociception. In this perspective article, we provide an overview of the mechanisms and neuronal networks that underlie the perception of pain. Then we proposed that coherent activity of astrocytes in the spinal cord and pain-related brain areas could be important in binding sensory, affective, and cognitive information on a slower time scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frida Higinio-Rodríguez
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Angélica Rivera-Villaseñor
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Isnarhazni Calero-Vargas
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Mónica López-Hidalgo
- Escuela Nacional de Estudios Superiores, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro, Mexico
- *Correspondence: Mónica López-Hidalgo,
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29
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Gombaut C, Holmes SA. Sensorimotor Integration and Pain Perception: Mechanisms Integrating Nociceptive Processing. A Systematic Review and ALE-Meta Analysis. Front Integr Neurosci 2022; 16:931292. [PMID: 35990591 PMCID: PMC9390858 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2022.931292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pain treatment services and clinical indicators of pain chronicity focus on afferent nociceptive projections and psychological markers of pain perception with little focus on motor processes. Research supports a strong role for the motor system both in terms of pain related disability and in descending pain modulation. However, there is little understanding of the neurological regions implicated in pain-motor interactions and how the motor and sensory systems interact under conditions of pain. We performed an ALE meta-analysis on two clinical cohorts with atypical sensory and motor processes under conditions of pain and no pain. Persons with sensory altered processing (SAP) and no pain presented with greater activity in the precentral and supplementary motor area relative to persons with self-reported pain. In persons with motor altered processing (MAP), there appeared to be a suppression of activity in key pain regions such as the insula, thalamus, and postcentral gyrus. As such, activation within the motor system may play a critical role in dampening pain symptoms in persons with SAP, and in suppressing activity in key pain regions of the brain in persons with MAP. Future research endeavors should focus on understanding how sensory and motor processes interact both to understand disability and discover new treatment avenues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Gombaut
- Pediatric Pain Pathway Lab, Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Cindy Gombaut
| | - Scott A. Holmes
- Department of Anesthesia, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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30
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Alhassani G, Liston MB, Clothier PJ, Schabrun SM. Interhemispheric Inhibition Between Primary Sensory Cortices is not Influenced by Acute Muscle Pain. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2022; 23:1177-1186. [PMID: 35131448 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2022.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Bilateral deficits in sensorimotor function have been observed in unilateral musculoskeletal pain conditions. Altered interhemispheric inhibition (IHI) between primary sensory cortices (S1s) is one mechanism that could explain this phenomenon. However, IHI between S1s in response to acute muscle pain, and the relationship between IHI and pressure pain sensitivity in the unaffected limb have not been examined. In 21 healthy individuals, IHI was assessed using somatosensory evoked potentials in response to paired median nerve electrical stimulation at: 1) baseline; 2) immediately following pain resolution; and 3) at 30-minutes follow-up. Acute muscle pain was induced by injection of hypertonic saline into the right abductor pollicis brevis (APB) muscle. Pressure pain thresholds were assessed at the right and left APB muscles before and 30-minutes after pain resolution. Compared to baseline, IHI from the affected to unaffected S1 was unaltered in response to acute muscle pain immediately following pain resolution, or at 30-minutes follow-up. Pressure pain thresholds were reduced over the right (P = .001) and left (P = .001) APB muscles at 30-minutes follow-up. These findings suggest IHI between S1s is unaffected by acute, short-lasting muscle pain, despite the development of increased sensitivity to pressure in the unaffected APB muscle. PERSPECTIVE: IHI from the affected S1 (contralateral to the side of pain) to unaffected S1 is unaltered following the resolution of acute muscle pain. This finding suggests that IHI between S1s may not be relevant in the development of bilateral sensorimotor symptoms in unilateral pain conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghufran Alhassani
- School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - Matthew B Liston
- Centre for Human and Applied Physiological Sciences, Kings College, London, UK
| | - Peter J Clothier
- School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
| | - Siobhan M Schabrun
- School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia; Centre for Pain IMPACT, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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31
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Hoeppli ME, Nahman-Averbuch H, Hinkle WA, Leon E, Peugh J, Lopez-Sola M, King CD, Goldschneider KR, Coghill RC. Dissociation between individual differences in self-reported pain intensity and underlying fMRI brain activation. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3569. [PMID: 35732637 PMCID: PMC9218124 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31039-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Pain is an individual experience. Previous studies have highlighted changes in brain activation and morphology associated with within- and interindividual pain perception. In this study we sought to characterize brain mechanisms associated with between-individual differences in pain in a sample of healthy adolescent and adult participants (N = 101). Here we show that pain ratings varied widely across individuals and that individuals reported changes in pain evoked by small differences in stimulus intensity in a manner congruent with their pain sensitivity, further supporting the utility of subjective reporting as a measure of the true individual experience. Furthermore, brain activation related to interindividual differences in pain was not detected, despite clear sensitivity of the Blood Oxygenation Level-Dependent (BOLD) signal to small differences in noxious stimulus intensities within individuals. These findings suggest fMRI may not be a useful objective measure to infer reported pain intensity.
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Affiliation(s)
- M E Hoeppli
- Pediatric Pain Research Center (PPRC), Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
- Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
| | - H Nahman-Averbuch
- Pediatric Pain Research Center (PPRC), Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Clinical and Translational Research and Washington University Pain Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - W A Hinkle
- Pediatric Pain Research Center (PPRC), Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - E Leon
- Pediatric Pain Research Center (PPRC), Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - J Peugh
- Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - M Lopez-Sola
- Serra Hunter Programme, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - C D King
- Pediatric Pain Research Center (PPRC), Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - K R Goldschneider
- Pediatric Pain Research Center (PPRC), Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Pain Management Center, Department of Anesthesiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - R C Coghill
- Pediatric Pain Research Center (PPRC), Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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32
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Kohoutová L, Atlas LY, Büchel C, Buhle JT, Geuter S, Jepma M, Koban L, Krishnan A, Lee DH, Lee S, Roy M, Schafer SM, Schmidt L, Wager TD, Woo CW. Individual variability in brain representations of pain. Nat Neurosci 2022; 25:749-759. [PMID: 35637368 PMCID: PMC9435464 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-022-01081-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Characterizing cerebral contributions to individual variability in pain processing is crucial for personalized pain medicine, but has yet to be done. In the present study, we address this problem by identifying brain regions with high versus low interindividual variability in their relationship with pain. We trained idiographic pain-predictive models with 13 single-trial functional MRI datasets (n = 404, discovery set) and quantified voxel-level importance for individualized pain prediction. With 21 regions identified as important pain predictors, we examined the interindividual variability of local pain-predictive weights in these regions. Higher-order transmodal regions, such as ventromedial and ventrolateral prefrontal cortices, showed larger individual variability, whereas unimodal regions, such as somatomotor cortices, showed more stable pain representations across individuals. We replicated this result in an independent dataset (n = 124). Overall, our study identifies cerebral sources of individual differences in pain processing, providing potential targets for personalized assessment and treatment of pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lada Kohoutová
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science, Suwon, South Korea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Lauren Y Atlas
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Christian Büchel
- Department of Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jason T Buhle
- Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Stephan Geuter
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Institute of Cognitive Science, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Marieke Jepma
- Department of Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Leonie Koban
- Control-Interoception-Attention Team, Paris Brain Institute (ICM), INSERM, CNRS, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Anjali Krishnan
- Department of Psychology, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dong Hee Lee
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science, Suwon, South Korea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Sungwoo Lee
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science, Suwon, South Korea
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
| | - Mathieu Roy
- Department of Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Scott M Schafer
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Liane Schmidt
- Control-Interoception-Attention Team, Paris Brain Institute (ICM), INSERM, CNRS, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Tor D Wager
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Choong-Wan Woo
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research, Institute for Basic Science, Suwon, South Korea.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea.
- Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea.
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33
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Lee JY, You T, Lee CH, Im GH, Seo H, Woo CW, Kim SG. Role of anterior cingulate cortex inputs to periaqueductal gray for pain avoidance. Curr Biol 2022; 32:2834-2847.e5. [PMID: 35609604 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.04.090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Although pain-related excessive fear is known to be a key factor in chronic pain disability, which involves the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), little is known about the downstream circuits of the ACC for fear avoidance in pain processing. Using behavioral experiments and functional magnetic resonance imaging with optogenetics at 15.2 T, we demonstrate that the ACC is a part of the abnormal circuit changes in chronic pain and its downstream circuits are closely related to modulating sensorimotor integration and generating active movement rather than carrying sensory information. The projection from the ACC to the dorsolateral and lateral parts of the periaqueductal gray (dl/lPAG) especially enhances both reflexive and active avoidance behavior toward pain. Collectively, our results indicate that increased signals from the ACC to the dl/lPAG might be critical for excessive fear avoidance in chronic pain disability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeong-Yun Lee
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research (CNIR), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea.
| | - Taeyi You
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research (CNIR), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea; Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Choong-Hee Lee
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research (CNIR), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Geun Ho Im
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research (CNIR), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Heewon Seo
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research (CNIR), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH 44704, USA
| | - Choong-Wan Woo
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research (CNIR), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea; Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong-Gi Kim
- Center for Neuroscience Imaging Research (CNIR), Institute for Basic Science (IBS), Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea; Department of Intelligent Precision Healthcare Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea.
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34
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Diekfuss JA, Grooms DR, Nissen KS, Coghill RC, Bonnette S, Barber Foss KD, Dudley JA, Berz K, Logan K, Gubanich P, Saltman AJ, Slutsky-Ganesh AB, Hansen E, Leach J, Yuan W, Myer GD. Does central nervous system dysfunction underlie patellofemoral pain in young females? Examining brain functional connectivity in association with patient-reported outcomes. J Orthop Res 2022; 40:1083-1096. [PMID: 34379343 DOI: 10.1002/jor.25152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is defined as retro- or peri-patellar knee pain without a clear structural abnormality. Unfortunately, many current treatment approaches fail to provide long-term pain relief, potentially due to an incomplete understanding of pain-disrupted sensorimotor dysfunction within the central nervous system. The purposes of this study were to evaluate brain functional connectivity in participants with and without PFP, and to determine the relationship between altered brain functional connectivity in association with patient-reported outcomes. Young female patients with PFP (n = 15; 14.3 ± 3.2 years) completed resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) and patient-reported outcome measures. Each patient with PFP was matched with two controls (n = 30, 15.5 ± 1.4 years) who also completed identical rs-fMRI testing. Six bilateral seeds important for pain and sensorimotor control were created, and seed-to-voxel analyses were conducted to compare functional connectivity between the two groups, as well as to determine the relationship between connectivity alterations and patient-reported outcomes. Relative to controls, patients with PFP exhibited altered functional connectivity between regions important for pain, psychological functioning, and sensorimotor control, and the connectivity alterations were related to perceived disability, dysfunction, and kinesiophobia. The present results support emergent evidence that PFP is not localized to structural knee dysfunction, but may actually be resultant to altered central neural processes. Clinical significance: These data provide potential neuro-therapeutic targets for novel therapies aimed to reorganize neural processes, improve neuromuscular function, and restore an active pain-free lifestyle in young females with PFP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jed A Diekfuss
- Emory Sports Performance and Research Center, Flowery Branch, Georgia, USA.,Department of Orthopaedics, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Dustin R Grooms
- Ohio Musculoskeletal & Neurological Institute, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA.,Division of Athletic Training, School of Applied Health Sciences and Wellness, College of Health Sciences and Professions, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA.,Division of Physical Therapy, School of Rehabilitation and Communication Sciences, College of Health Sciences and Professions, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA
| | - Katharine S Nissen
- The SPORT Center, Division of Sports Medicine, Cincinnati Children Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Robert C Coghill
- Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Pediatric Pain Research Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Pediatric Neuroimaging Research Consortium, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Departments of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Scott Bonnette
- The SPORT Center, Division of Sports Medicine, Cincinnati Children Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Kim D Barber Foss
- Emory Sports Performance and Research Center, Flowery Branch, Georgia, USA
| | - Jonathan A Dudley
- Pediatric Neuroimaging Research Consortium, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Kate Berz
- The SPORT Center, Division of Sports Medicine, Cincinnati Children Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Departments of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Kelsey Logan
- The SPORT Center, Division of Sports Medicine, Cincinnati Children Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Departments of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Paul Gubanich
- The SPORT Center, Division of Sports Medicine, Cincinnati Children Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Departments of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Anna J Saltman
- Departments of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Alexis B Slutsky-Ganesh
- Emory Sports Performance and Research Center, Flowery Branch, Georgia, USA.,Department of Orthopaedics, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Emma Hansen
- Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - James Leach
- Division of Radiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Weihong Yuan
- Pediatric Neuroimaging Research Consortium, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Departments of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Gregory D Myer
- Emory Sports Performance and Research Center, Flowery Branch, Georgia, USA.,Department of Orthopaedics, Emory University, School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,Emory Sports Medicine Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.,The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA
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35
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Tinnermann A, Sprenger C, Büchel C. Opioid analgesia alters corticospinal coupling along the descending pain system in healthy participants. eLife 2022; 11:74293. [PMID: 35471139 PMCID: PMC9042228 DOI: 10.7554/elife.74293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Opioids are potent analgesic drugs with widespread cortical, subcortical, and spinal targets. In particular, the central pain system comprising ascending and descending pain pathways has high opioid receptor densities and is thus crucial for opioid analgesia. Here, we investigated the effects of the opioid remifentanil in a large sample (n = 78) of healthy male participants using combined corticospinal functional MRI. This approach offers the possibility to measure BOLD responses simultaneously in the brain and spinal cord, allowing us to investigate the role of corticospinal coupling in opioid analgesia. Our data show that opioids altered activity in regions involved in pain processing such as somatosensory regions, including the spinal cord and pain modulation such as prefrontal regions. Moreover, coupling strength along the descending pain system, that is, between the anterior cingulate cortex, periaqueductal gray, and spinal cord, was stronger in participants who reported stronger analgesia during opioid treatment while participants that received saline showed reduced coupling when experiencing less pain. These results indicate that coupling along the descending pain pathway is a potential mechanism of opioid analgesia and can differentiate between opioid analgesia and unspecific reductions in pain such as habituation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Tinnermann
- Department for Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Max Planck School of Cognition, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christian Sprenger
- Department for Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian Büchel
- Department for Systems Neuroscience, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Max Planck School of Cognition, Leipzig, Germany
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36
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Luo YQ, Liang RB, Xu SH, Pan YC, Li QY, Shu HY, Kang M, Yin P, Zhang LJ, Shao Y. Altered regional brain white matter in dry eye patients: a brain imaging study. Aging (Albany NY) 2022; 14:2805-2818. [PMID: 35332110 PMCID: PMC9004581 DOI: 10.18632/aging.203976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the regional changes of brain white matter (WM) in DE patients using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI). A total of 25 dry eye patients (PAT) and 25 healthy controls (HC) were recruited. All subjects underwent DTI and NODDI, fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), radial diffusivity (RD), isotropic volume fraction (FISO), intra-cellular volume fraction (FICVF), and orientation dispersion index (ODI) were obtained respectively. Then complete Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), anxiety score (AS) or depression scores (DS) were obtained. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the reliability of DTI and NODDI in distinguishing the two groups. DTI revealed that PAT had lower FA in both the left superior longitudinal fasciculus (LSLF) and the corpus callosum (CC), and higher MD in the LSLF, the right posterior limb of the internal capsule and the right posterior thalamic radiation. PAT had significant AD changes in regions including the genu of the CC, the right posterior limb of internal capsule, and the right splenium of the CC. From NODDI, PAT showed increased ODI in the LSLF and increased FISO in the right splenium of the CC. FICVF showed a significant decrease in the LSLF while increased in the left anterior corona radiata and the CC. Furthermore, the average values of MD and FICVF were significantly correlated with DS and AS. Hence the results of this study suggest that there are regional changes in WM in DE patients which may contribute to further understanding of the pathological mechanism of DE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Qing Luo
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi Province Ocular Disease Clinical Research Center, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, PR China
| | - Rong-Bin Liang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi Province Medical Imaging Research Institute, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, PR China
| | - San-Hua Xu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi Province Medical Imaging Research Institute, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, PR China
| | - Yi-Cong Pan
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi Province Medical Imaging Research Institute, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, PR China
| | - Qiu-Yu Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi Province Medical Imaging Research Institute, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, PR China
| | - Hui-Ye Shu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi Province Medical Imaging Research Institute, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, PR China
| | - Min Kang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi Province Medical Imaging Research Institute, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, PR China
| | - Pin Yin
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi Province Medical Imaging Research Institute, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, PR China
| | - Li-Juan Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi Province Medical Imaging Research Institute, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, PR China
| | - Yi Shao
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Jiangxi Province Medical Imaging Research Institute, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, PR China
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den Hollander M, Smeets RJEM, van Meulenbroek T, van Laake-Geelen CCM, Baadjou VA, Timmers I. Exposure in Vivo as a Treatment Approach to Target Pain-Related Fear: Theory and New Insights From Research and Clinical Practice. Phys Ther 2022; 102:6515749. [PMID: 35084025 DOI: 10.1093/ptj/pzab270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Pain-related fear (PRF) can be a significant factor contributing to the development and maintenance of pain-related disability in individuals with persistent pain. One treatment approach to target PRF and related avoidance behavior is exposure in vivo (EXP). EXP has a long history in the field of anxiety, a field that is constantly evolving. This Perspective outlines recent theoretical advancements and how they apply to EXP for PRF, including suggestions for how to optimize inhibitory learning during EXP; reviews mechanistic work from neuroimaging supporting the targeting of PRF in people with chronic pain; and focuses on clinical applications of EXP for PRF, as EXP is moving into new directions regarding who is receiving EXP (eg, EXP in chronic secondary pain) and how treatment is provided (EXP in primary care with a crucial role for physical therapists). Considerations are provided regarding challenges, remaining questions, and promising future perspectives. IMPACT For patients with chronic pain who have elevated pain-related fear (PRF), exposure is the treatment of choice. This Perspective highlights the inhibitory learning approach, summarizes mechanistic work from experimental psychology and neuroimaging regarding PRF in chronic pain, and describes possible clinical applications of EXP in chronic secondary pain as well as in primary care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlies den Hollander
- Adelante Centre of Expertise in Rehabilitation and Audiology, Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Rob J E M Smeets
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.,CIR Revalidatie, location Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Thijs van Meulenbroek
- Adelante Centre of Expertise in Rehabilitation and Audiology, Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Charlotte C M van Laake-Geelen
- Adelante Centre of Expertise in Rehabilitation and Audiology, Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Vera A Baadjou
- Adelante Centre of Expertise in Rehabilitation and Audiology, Maastricht, the Netherlands.,Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Inge Timmers
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
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38
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Asymmetric Lateralization during Pain Processing. Symmetry (Basel) 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/sym13122416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Pain is defined as “an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with, or resembling that associated with, actual or potential tissue damage”. This complex perception arises from the coordinated activity of several brain areas processing either sensory–discriminative or affective–motivational components. Functional studies performed in healthy volunteers revealed that affective–emotional components of pain are processed bilaterally but present a clear lateralization towards the right hemisphere, regardless of the site of stimulation. Studies at the cellular level performed in experimental animal models of pain have shown that neuronal activity in the right amygdala is clearly pronociceptive, whilst activation of neurons in the left amygdala might even exert antinociceptive effects. A shift in lateralization becomes evident during the development of chronic pain; thus, in patients with neuropathic pain symptoms, there is increased activity in ipsilateral brain areas related with pain. These observations extend the asymmetrical left–right lateralization within the nervous system and provide a new hypothesis for the pathophysiology of chronic forms of pain. In this article, we will review experimental data from preclinical and human studies on functional lateralization in the brain during pain processing, which will help to explain the affective disorders associated with persistent, chronic pain.
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Bumgarner JR, Walker WH, Nelson RJ. Circadian rhythms and pain. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 129:296-306. [PMID: 34375675 PMCID: PMC8429267 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The goal of this review is to provide a perspective on the nature and importance of the relationship between the circadian and pain systems. We provide: 1) An overview of the circadian and pain systems, 2) a review of direct and correlative evidence that demonstrates diurnal and circadian rhythms within the pain system; 3) a perspective highlighting the need to consider the role of a proposed feedback loop of circadian rhythm disruption and maladaptive pain; 4) a perspective on the nature of the relationship between circadian rhythms and pain. In summary, we propose that there is no single locus responsible for producing the circadian rhythms of the pain system. Instead, circadian rhythms of pain are a complex result of the distributed rhythms present throughout the pain system, especially those of the descending pain modulatory system, and the rhythms of the systems with which it interacts, including the opioid, endocrine, and immune systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob R Bumgarner
- Department of Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
| | - William H Walker
- Department of Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Randy J Nelson
- Department of Neuroscience, Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
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40
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Sieberg CB, Lebel A, Silliman E, Holmes S, Borsook D, Elman I. Left to themselves: Time to target chronic pain in childhood rare diseases. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 126:276-288. [PMID: 33774086 PMCID: PMC8738995 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic pain is prevalent among patients with rare diseases (RDs). However, little is understood about how biopsychosocial mechanisms may be integrated in the unique set of clinical features and therapeutic challenges inherent in their pain conditions. METHODS This review presents examples of major categories of RDs with particular pain conditions. In addition, we provide translational evidence on clinical and scientific rationale for psychosocially- and neurodevelopmentally-informed treatment of pain in RD patients. RESULTS Neurobiological and functional overlap between various RD syndromes and pain states suggests amalgamation and mutual modulation of the respective conditions. Emotional sequelae could be construed as an emotional homologue of physical pain mediated via overlapping brain circuitry. Given their clearly defined genetic and molecular etiologies, RDs may serve as heuristic models for unraveling pathophysiological processes inherent in chronic pain. CONCLUSIONS Systematic evaluation of chronic pain in patients with RD contributes to sophisticated insight into both pain and their psychosocial correlates, which could transform treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine B Sieberg
- Biobehavioral Pediatric Pain Lab, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA; Center for Pain and the Brain (P.A.I.N Group), Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Alyssa Lebel
- Center for Pain and the Brain (P.A.I.N Group), Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Erin Silliman
- Biobehavioral Pediatric Pain Lab, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA; Division of Graduate Medical Sciences, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Scott Holmes
- Center for Pain and the Brain (P.A.I.N Group), Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - David Borsook
- Center for Pain and the Brain (P.A.I.N Group), Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Anesthesiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
| | - Igor Elman
- Center for Pain and the Brain (P.A.I.N Group), Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care & Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Cambridge Health Alliance, Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
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Lee J, Andronesi OC, Torrado-Carvajal A, Ratai EM, Loggia ML, Weerasekera A, Berry MP, Ellingsen DM, Isaro L, Lazaridou A, Paschali M, Grahl A, Wasan AD, Edwards RR, Napadow V. 3D magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging reveals links between brain metabolites and multidimensional pain features in fibromyalgia. Eur J Pain 2021; 25:2050-2064. [PMID: 34102707 DOI: 10.1002/ejp.1820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fibromyalgia is a centralized multidimensional chronic pain syndrome, but its pathophysiology is not fully understood. METHODS We applied 3D magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI), covering multiple cortical and subcortical brain regions, to investigate the association between neuro-metabolite (e.g. combined glutamate and glutamine, Glx; myo-inositol, mIno; and combined (total) N-acetylaspartate and N-acetylaspartylglutamate, tNAA) levels and multidimensional clinical/behavioural variables (e.g. pain catastrophizing, clinical pain severity and evoked pain sensitivity) in women with fibromyalgia (N = 87). RESULTS Pain catastrophizing scores were positively correlated with Glx and tNAA levels in insular cortex, and negatively correlated with mIno levels in posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). Clinical pain severity was positively correlated with Glx levels in insula and PCC, and with tNAA levels in anterior midcingulate cortex (aMCC), but negatively correlated with mIno levels in aMCC and thalamus. Evoked pain sensitivity was negatively correlated with levels of tNAA in insular cortex, MCC, PCC and thalamus. CONCLUSIONS These findings support single voxel placement targeting nociceptive processing areas in prior 1 H-MRS studies, but also highlight other areas not as commonly targeted, such as PCC, as important for chronic pain pathophysiology. Identifying target brain regions linked to multidimensional symptoms of fibromyalgia (e.g. negative cognitive/affective response to pain, clinical pain, evoked pain sensitivity) may aid the development of neuromodulatory and individualized therapies. Furthermore, efficient multi-region sampling with 3D MRSI could reduce the burden of lengthy scan time for clinical research applications of molecular brain-based mechanisms supporting multidimensional aspects of fibromyalgia. SIGNIFICANCE This large N study linked brain metabolites and pain features in fibromyalgia patients, with a better spatial resolution and brain coverage, to understand a molecular mechanism underlying pain catastrophizing and other aspects of pain transmission. Metabolite levels in self-referential cognitive processing area as well as pain-processing regions were associated with pain outcomes. These results could help the understanding of its pathophysiology and treatment strategies for clinicians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeungchan Lee
- Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Ovidiu C Andronesi
- Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Angel Torrado-Carvajal
- Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA.,Medical Image Analysis and Biometry Laboratory, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eva-Maria Ratai
- Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Marco L Loggia
- Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Akila Weerasekera
- Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Michael P Berry
- Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Dan-Mikael Ellingsen
- Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA.,Department of Psychology, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Laura Isaro
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Asimina Lazaridou
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Myrella Paschali
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Arvina Grahl
- Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Ajay D Wasan
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Center for Innovation in Pain Care, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Robert R Edwards
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Vitaly Napadow
- Department of Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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42
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Hewitt D, Byrne A, Henderson J, Newton-Fenner A, Tyson-Carr J, Fallon N, Brown C, Stancak A. Inhibition of cortical somatosensory processing during and after low frequency peripheral nerve stimulation in humans. Clin Neurophysiol 2021; 132:1481-1495. [PMID: 34023628 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2021.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Transcutaneous low-frequency stimulation (LFS) elicits long-term depression-like effects on human pain perception. However, the neural mechanisms underlying LFS are poorly understood. We investigated cortical activation changes occurring during LFS and if changes were associated with reduced nociceptive processing and increased amplitude of spontaneous cortical oscillations post-treatment. METHODS LFS was applied to the radial nerve of 25 healthy volunteers over two sessions using active (1 Hz) or sham (0.02 Hz) frequencies. Changes in resting electroencephalography (EEG) and laser-evoked potentials (LEPs) were investigated before and after LFS. Somatosensory-evoked potentials were recorded during LFS and source analysis was carried out. RESULTS Ipsilateral midcingulate and operculo-insular cortex source activity declined linearly during LFS. Active LFS was associated with attenuated long-latency LEP amplitude in ipsilateral frontocentral electrodes and increased resting alpha (8-12 Hz) and beta (16-24 Hz) band power in electrodes overlying operculo-insular, sensorimotor and frontal cortical regions. Reduced ipsilateral operculo-insular cortex source activity during LFS correlated with a smaller post-treatment alpha-band power increase. CONCLUSIONS LFS attenuated somatosensory processing both during and after stimulation. SIGNIFICANCE Results further our understanding of the attenuation of somatosensory processing both during and after LFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Hewitt
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Adam Byrne
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK; Institute for Risk and Uncertainty, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Jessica Henderson
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Alice Newton-Fenner
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK; Institute for Risk and Uncertainty, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - John Tyson-Carr
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Nicholas Fallon
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Christopher Brown
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Andrej Stancak
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK; Institute for Risk and Uncertainty, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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43
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Nonlinear increase of pain in distance-based and area-based spatial summation. Pain 2021; 162:1771-1780. [PMID: 33449502 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT When nociceptive stimulation affects a larger body area, pain increases. This effect is called spatial summation of pain (SSp). The aim of this study was to describe SSp as a function of the size or distance of a stimulated area(s) and to test how this function is shaped by the intensity and SSp test paradigm. Thirty-one healthy volunteers participated in a within-subject experiment. Participants were exposed to area-based and distanced-based SSp. For area-based SSp, electrocutaneous noxious stimuli were applied by up to 5 electrodes (5 areas) forming a line-like pattern; for distance-based SSp, the same position and lengths of stimuli were used but only 2 electrodes were stimulated. Each paradigm was repeated using pain of low, moderate, and high intensity. It was found that the pattern of pain intensity followed a logarithmic (power) rather than a linear function. The dynamics of the pain increase were significantly different across pain intensities, with more summation occurring when pain was perceived as low. Results indicated that area-based SSp is more painful than distance-based SSp when low and moderate but not when high pain intensity is induced. Presented findings have important implications for all studies in which the spatial dimension of pain is measured. When the area or separation between nociceptive stimulation increases, pain does not increase linearly and the pattern of the pain increase is a result of the interaction between intensity and the number of nociceptive sites. A power function should be considered when predicting the size of a nociceptive source.
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Testa G, Cattaneo A, Capsoni S. Understanding pain perception through genetic painlessness diseases: The role of NGF and proNGF. Pharmacol Res 2021; 169:105662. [PMID: 34000361 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Nerve growth factor (NGF), by binding to TrkA and p75NTR receptors, regulates the survival and differentiation of sensory neurons during development and mediates pain transmission and perception during adulthood, by acting at different levels of the nervous system. Key to understanding the role of NGF as a pain mediator is the finding that mutations (namely, R121W, V232fs and R221W) in the NGF gene cause painlessness disease Hereditary Sensory and Autonomic Neuropathy type V (HSAN V). Here we shall review the consequences of these NGF mutations, each of which results in specific clinical signs: R221W determines congenital pain insensitivity with no overt cognitive disabilities, whereas V232fs and R121W also result in intellectual disability, thus showing similarities to HSAN IV, which is caused by mutations in TrkA, rather than to HSAN V. Comparing the cellular, biochemical and clinical findings of these mutations could help in better understanding not only the possible mechanisms underlying HSAN V, but also mechanisms of NGF signalling and roles. These mutations alter the balance between NGF and proNGF in favour of an accumulation of the latter, suggesting a possible role of proNGF as a molecule with an analgesic role. Furthermore, the neurotrophic and pronociceptive functions of NGF are split by the R221W mutation, making NGF variants based on this mutation interesting for designing therapeutic applications for many diseases. This review emphasizes the possibility of using the mutations involved in "painlessness" clinical disorders as an innovative approach to identify new proteins and pathways involved in pain transmission and perception. OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS: Why do homozygous HSAN V die postnatally? What is the cause of this early postnatal lethality? Is the development of a mouse or a human feeling less pain affecting higher cognitive and perceptual functions? What is the consequence of the HSAN V mutation on the development of joints and bones? Are the multiple fractures observed in HSAN V patients due exclusively to the carelessness consequent to not feeling pain, or also to an intrinsic frailty of their bones? Are heterodimers of NGFWT and NGFR221W in the heterozygote state formed? And if so, what are the properties of these heterodimeric proteins? How is the processing of proNGFR221W to NGFR221W affected by the mutation?
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Testa
- Bio@SNS Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
| | - Antonino Cattaneo
- Bio@SNS Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Simona Capsoni
- Bio@SNS Laboratory of Biology, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy; Section of Physiology, Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
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Schmitgen A, Saal J, Sankaran N, Desai M, Joseph I, Starr P, Chang EF, Shirvalkar P. Musical Hallucinations in Chronic Pain: The Anterior Cingulate Cortex Regulates Internally Generated Percepts. Front Neurol 2021; 12:669172. [PMID: 34017308 PMCID: PMC8129573 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.669172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) has been extensively implicated in the functional brain network underlying chronic pain. Electrical stimulation of the ACC has been proposed as a therapy for refractory chronic pain, although, mechanisms of therapeutic action are still unclear. As stimulation of the ACC has been reported to produce many different behavioral and perceptual responses, this region likely plays a varied role in sensory and emotional integration as well as modulating internally generated perceptual states. In this case series, we report the emergence of subjective musical hallucinations (MH) after electrical stimulation of the ACC in two patients with refractory chronic pain. In an N-of-1 analysis from one patient, we identified neural activity (local field potentials) that distinguish MH from both the non-MH condition and during a task involving music listening. Music hallucinations were associated with reduced alpha band activity and increased gamma band activity in the ACC. Listening to similar music was associated with different changes in ACC alpha and gamma power, extending prior results that internally generated perceptual phenomena are supported by circuits in the ACC. We discuss these findings in the context of phantom perceptual phenomena and posit a framework whereby chronic pain may be interpreted as a persistent internally generated percept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashlyn Schmitgen
- Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Jeremy Saal
- UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Narayan Sankaran
- UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Maansi Desai
- Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Science, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Isabella Joseph
- Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Philip Starr
- UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Edward F. Chang
- UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Physiology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Prasad Shirvalkar
- Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
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Raabe W, Walk D. Slowly conducting potentials in human sensory nerves. J Neurosci Methods 2020; 351:109045. [PMID: 33358850 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.109045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2020] [Revised: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In clinical practice, small myelinated sensory fibers, Aδ-fibers, conveying mainly pain and temperature sensations, cannot be examined with available nerve conduction study techniques. Currently, these fibers can only be examined with experimental or very specialized and not commonly available nerve conduction techniques, or only indirectly with cerebral evoked potentials. NEW METHOD This study uses equipment and methods available in clinical neurophysiology laboratories to record from human sensory nerves ≥1000 averaged responses to focal, non-painful stimuli applied by a special electrode to epidermal nerves. The averaged responses to odd numbered stimuli are compared to the averaged responses to even numbered stimuli. An algorithm identifies potentials common in both averages. The 99th and 99.9th percentiles for this algorithm are obtained from control records without stimulation and applied to records with stimulation to identify potentials resulting from stimulation of intraepidermal nerves. RESULTS The algorithm identifies numerous negative and positive potentials as being different from controls at the 99th and 99.9th percentile levels. The conduction velocities of the potentials range from of 1.3-29.9 m/s and are compatible with conduction velocities of Aδ-fibers. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD(S) No existing methods. CONCLUSIONS The stimulation, recording and data analysis methods used in this study can be applied in the clinical EMG laboratory to identify Aδ-fibers in human sensory nerves.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Raabe
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States.
| | - D Walk
- Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
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